Trump says U.S. to pull some troops from Germany over NATO spending feud

[webfact]

Trump says U.S. to pull some troops from Germany over NATO spending feud

By Jeff Mason and Arshad Mohammed

 

U.S. President Donald Trump listens to Vice President Mike Pence speak during a roundtable discussion on "America's seniors" in the Cabinet Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., June 15, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Monday he would cut the number of U.S. troops in Germany to 25,000, faulting the close U.S. ally for failing to meet NATO's defense spending target and accusing it of taking advantage of America on trade.

 

The reduction of about 9,500 troops would be a remarkable rebuke to one of the closest U.S. trading partners and could erode faith in a pillar of postwar European security: that U.S. forces would defend alliance members against Russian aggression.

 

It was not clear whether Trump's stated intent, which first emerged in media reports on June 5, would actually come to pass given criticism from some of the president's fellow Republicans in Congress who have argued a cut would be a gift to Russia.

 

Speaking to reporters, Trump accused Germany of being "delinquent" in its payments to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and vowed to stick with the plan unless Berlin changed course.

 

"So we're protecting Germany and they're delinquent. That doesn't make sense. So I said, we're going to bring down the count to 25,000 soldiers," Trump said, adding that "they treat us very badly on trade" but providing no details.

 

NATO in 2014 set a target that each of its 30 members should spend 2% of GDP on defense. Most, including Germany, do not.

 

Trump's remarks were the first official confirmation of the planned troop cut, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal and later confirmed to Reuters by a senior U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

 

That official said it stemmed from months of work by the U.S. military and had nothing to do with tensions between Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who thwarted his plan to host an in-person Group of Seven (G7) summit.

 

Asked about Trump's statement, German Ambassador to the United States Emily Haber said U.S. troops were in Europe to defend transatlantic security and to help the United States project its power in Africa and Asia.

 

"This is about transatlantic security but also about American security," she told a virtual think tank audience, saying U.S.-German security cooperation would remain strong and that her government had been informed of the decision.

 

Last week, sources told Reuters that German officials as well a number of U.S. officials at the White House, State Department and Pentagon were surprised by the Wall Street Journal report and they offered explanations ranging from Trump's pique over the G7 to the influence of Richard Grenell, the former U.S. ambassador to Germany and a Trump loyalist.

 

"There is sure to be significant bipartisan opposition to this move in Congress, so it is possible any actual moves are significantly delayed or even never implemented," said Phil Gordon of the Council on Foreign Relations think tank.

 

"This move will further erode allies' faith in NATO and U.S. defense guarantees," Gordon added, saying it may also "weaken the deterrence of Russia or anyone else who might threaten a NATO member."

 

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Additional reporting by Eric Beech, David Brunnstrom and Humeyra Pamuk; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Chris Reese and Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-06-16

 

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[meechai]

 

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

President Donald Trump said on Monday he would cut the number of U.S. troops in Germany to 25,000

Cut them to zero or rent the guarding service out.

 

Times are hard & getting harder there is no reason not to pull in the Military that is costing USA $$$

to protect those that can dang well protect themselves

 

Charity begins at home ????

Edited June 16, 2020 by meechai

[jollyhangmon]

 

... good, don't trip on the way out, 5555 ... 

 

[Tug]

Putin must be absolutely delighted he’s doing a wonderful job for the russan federation but for us here in the USA not so much

[stevenl]

Are US troops there to protect Germany or is it in the US interests those troops are there?

 

Withdrawing back to the US would IMO be a strategic mistake, moving to e.g. Poland would be excellent.

[franzs]

1 hour ago, meechai said:

 

Cut them to zero or rent the guarding service out.

 

Times are hard & getting harder there is no reason not to pull in the Military that is costing USA $$$

to protect those that can dang well protect themselves

 

Charity begins at home ????

It would be great for Europe when the Atomic-Nation USA get out with all it's troops and A-bombs.

We in Europe have now no more threat from the east like 70 years ago, it is the US try to convince us that there is a threat.

 

The biggest threat for us is a moron US President to launch an atomic war with the east from European soil.

Edited June 16, 2020 by franzs

[Eric Loh]

His usual foul mood over Merkel's G7 snub and grandstanding for his domestic audience. Congress or the Pentagon will push back hard. Bluster and no bite from Mr. Fickle.  

[JusticeGB]

Why shouldn't Germany pay the USA the full amount of the cost of keeping troops in Germany.  The UK paid Germany for winning the war because it had to borrow money from the USA to fight the war and only paid of the loan this century. 

[meechai]

3 hours ago, franzs said:

It would be great for Europe when the Atomic-Nation USA get out with all it's troops and A-bombs.

I agree 100% with this part

[meechai]

3 hours ago, Tug said:

Putin must be absolutely delighted he’s doing a wonderful job for the russan federation but for us here in the USA not so much

Watching too many cartoons again eh?

russan federation 555....Maybe your thinking of Star Trek?

 

We here in the USA are quite happy thanks ????

Edited June 16, 2020 by meechai

[OneMoreFarang]

He should remove all US soldiers from German ground. And Germany should make sure no US soldier ever comes back.

Germany does not need US soldiers.

The US soldiers are there because the US government and military want that strategic location - not to protect Germany.

 

With a moron president like that every country should be happy to be independent from the USA. And we can't trust those US voters to vote for any better president now or in the future. Bye bye America. There was a time when you were good. That time is over.

[OneMoreFarang]

59 minutes ago, JusticeGB said:

Why shouldn't Germany pay the USA the full amount of the cost of keeping troops in Germany. 

Because the US soldiers are in Germany for strategic reason. The US government and military wants them in that position.

The US soldiers are not in Germany to protect Germany.

Hopefully they all will leave soon.

[Chelseafan]

3 hours ago, franzs said:

It would be great for Europe when the Atomic-Nation USA get out with all it's troops and A-bombs.

We in Europe have now no more threat from the east like 70 years ago, it is the US try to convince us that there is a threat.

 

The biggest threat for us is a moron US President to launch an atomic war with the east from European soil.

 

I would usually disagree with you, after all conflicts have been and are occuring all the time, Kosovo, Ukraine, Crimea and not too long ago, Croatia, Bosnia, Georgia. However, NATO is so toothless these days that I begin to wonder what's the point of having an army.

 

Trump may be a Moron but I think even he wouldn't go that far.

 

 

[spidermike007]

As usual, this terribly erratic and dangerous man did this without discussing it with our allies, nor even members of his own party. He is becoming more useless by the day, and assuring his own defeat.

 

The decision was not discussed in advance with Germany or other NATO members, and Congress was not officially informed — prompting a letter from 22 Republican members of the House Armed Services Committee urging a rethink. “The threats posed by Russia have not lessened, and we believe that signs of a weakened U.S. commitment to NATO will encourage further Russian aggression and opportunism,” Rep. Mac Thornberry of Texas wrote in a letter to Trump with his colleagues. Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, slammed Trump’s move as “another favor” to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Rep. Liz Cheney, a Republican from Wyoming, said last week that Trump appeared to be making a serious mistake.

 

https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/trump-announces-major-us-troop-cut-in-delinquent-germany/article_be6c5f74-b791-58e2-b10a-0c82b9774dd0.html

[Srikcir]

Good luck next time Trump or the US asks for Europe's military forces and intelligence support in the Middle East region and Africa. 

[earlinclaifornia]

No surprise as his feelings were hurt once Merkel announce here concerned COVID trip to the G 7 summit. 

[Crazy Alex]

46 minutes ago, earlinclaifornia said:

No surprise as his feelings were hurt once Merkel announce here concerned COVID trip to the G 7 summit. 

Honestly, that makes no sense. Any chance you can review and reword? I would LOVE to debate the issue with you.

[Crazy Alex]

9 hours ago, stevenl said:

Are US troops there to protect Germany or is it in the US interests those troops are there?

 

Withdrawing back to the US would IMO be a strategic mistake, moving to e.g. Poland would be excellent.

NATO. But yeah, I'd be cool with moving troops to Poland. Good idea.

[Crazy Alex]

5 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

He should remove all US soldiers from German ground. And Germany should make sure no US soldier ever comes back.

Germany does not need US soldiers.

The US soldiers are there because the US government and military want that strategic location - not to protect Germany.

 

With a moron president like that every country should be happy to be independent from the USA. And we can't trust those US voters to vote for any better president now or in the future. Bye bye America. There was a time when you were good. That time is over.

Oh I don't know.... I kinda think what Germany wants has something to do with whether foreign troops are on their soil for decades. Blaming it all on America just doesn't make much sense at all to a logical person.

[Boon Mee]

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

Good luck next time Trump or the US asks for Europe's military forces and intelligence support in the Middle East region and Africa. 

Yeah, and good luck to Euros we have bailed you out in two world wars, eh? 

[Tug]

6 hours ago, meechai said:

Watching too many cartoons again eh?

russan federation 555....Maybe your thinking of Star Trek?

 

We here in the USA are quite happy thanks ????

Ahh no Putin plays trump like a cheep fiddle I’m in the USA I see Daly protests in the streets covid gaining a strong foothold skyrocketing unemployment and deficits healthcare and women’s rights undermined daily no sir the vast majority of Americans here aren’t happy and know putin plays trump like a cheep fiddle and no I’m not a startreck fan but I do enjoy history always have it’s been a lifetime passion 

[billd766]

11 hours ago, meechai said:

 

Cut them to zero or rent the guarding service out.

 

Times are hard & getting harder there is no reason not to pull in the Military that is costing USA $$$

to protect those that can dang well protect themselves

 

Charity begins at home ????

So why are their so many US troops in the Gulf region?

 

If the US really wants to save money by bringing their troops home, try NOT invading other countries, stop blockading Iran, Venezuela, and many other countries. There are 37,000 troops in S Korea, why not pull some of them back?

[micmichd]

6 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

He should remove all US soldiers from German ground. And Germany should make sure no US soldier ever comes back.

Germany does not need US soldiers.

The US soldiers are there because the US government and military want that strategic location - not to protect Germany.

 

With a moron president like that every country should be happy to be independent from the USA. And we can't trust those US voters to vote for any better president now or in the future. Bye bye America. There was a time when you were good. That time is over.

I guess I know these Germans. They jump in the bed with everyone who promises them warm feet and energy for their cars. They're corrupt as corrupt can be. And Wladimir Putin is the one to fill the power vacuum once the USA are gone. But Wladimir Putin is a fundamentalisic ultra-orthodox authoritarian Christian, maybe even worse than WASP Donald Trump. 

Good luck, <deleted>hole country Germany, you're done either way. 

 

 

 

[sawadee1947]

 

 

7 hours ago, JusticeGB said:

Why shouldn't Germany pay the USA the full amount of the cost of keeping troops in Germany.  The UK paid Germany for winning the war because it had to borrow money from the USA to fight the war and only paid of the loan this century. 

...and who do you think is paying for all the US bases in Germany? Maintenance, civilians, security??? 

It's Germany. 

If you can't forget that you had to pay for the victory (without US help you would have a Chancellor Angela Merkel instead of a Clown) and that this defeated and destroyed country is now Number One in Europe..... then truly it must hurt you! 

Poor mate, Yesterday little man. ????

 

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, Crazy Alex said:

Oh I don't know.... I kinda think what Germany wants has something to do with whether foreign troops are on their soil for decades. Blaming it all on America just doesn't make much sense at all to a logical person.

There was a time when Germany and the USA and other countries worked together in NATO. They worked well together.

And then the USA started to invade countries on their own. That didn't help. And then Americans elected this incompetent moron which made things worse.

What are the common goals from the USA and Europe now? Things changed, a lot! It's time to reevaluate the situation. US troupes in Germany and the rest of Europe are part of that reevaluation.

 

Some Germans like the US troupes in Germany because they spend money in Germany. That's like tourists in Thailand. The countries like the money but often not so much the people who bring the money.

[OneMoreFarang]

52 minutes ago, micmichd said:

Good luck, <deleted>hole country Germany, you're done either way. 

That shows your not existing competence and character. Are you proud to show it like that?

[hugocnx]

11 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

His usual foul mood over Merkel's G7 snub and grandstanding for his domestic audience. Congress or the Pentagon will push back hard. Bluster and no bite from Mr. Fickle.  

Hey Eric, remember that you called me 'Grossly wrong' in another post June 8th where I stated this 'Yes, retaliation but not for G7 but for Germany not contributing their 2% to Nato.' How grossly wrong You were.

Think before you judge.

Edited June 16, 2020 by hugocnx

[hugocnx]

12 hours ago, Tug said:

Putin must be absolutely delighted he’s doing a wonderful job for the russan federation but for us here in the USA not so much

Troops pulled out of Germany are supposed to go to Poland if I am correct. Just as close to Putin as can be.

Edited June 16, 2020 by hugocnx

[bartender100]

 

Why is Russia still the bogeymen? are they such a threat to world peace? are they set on world domination?, just what is the problem?.

 

I see them as a nation trying to Westernise

[stevenl]

1 hour ago, hugocnx said:

Hey Eric, remember that you called me 'Grossly wrong' in another post June 8th where I stated this 'Yes, retaliation but not for G7 but for Germany not contributing their 2% to Nato.' How grossly wrong You were.

Think before you judge.

Why do you think so, do you presume trump is speaking the truth?